Posted on 06/12/2007 7:38:33 PM PDT by murron
Movie Theatre Chain, AMC, gives student discounts, but none to our military members.
What’s new?
Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, my dad always asked for military discount. Most of the places offered something...5% - 10% whatever. The amount wasn’t what mattered, what mattered was the gesture.
I have been in for 25 years this August. I ask now and again, and sometimes I get the discount, sometimes I don’t. Again, the amount doesn’t matter, but the gesture does.
One time I asked (I wish I remembered the place) and the guy said no. I said, we are a nation at war. He asked me why I wasn’t at war with all those that were.
I dropped my sh*t and told him I just got back, but thanks for your support none the less.
I hate to say this, but we are not a nation at war. Our military is at war (somebody better than me said this before) but our nation is at the mall.
I served, I did my job and I am proud of my service. I have gotten to the point I don’t even tell people I have served because I get the monkey doing a math problem look, than a perfunctory, “thanks for serving, quit looking at me stare”.
The guy that replaced me (I still stay in contact with) who has now de-mobilized tells me he is going through the same crap I went through a year ago. It would seem my left seat right seat is still going on.
I felt a real sense of belonging to this forum will I was deployed. Reality really hit home when I got home and realized that most people are totally ignorant as to what is really going on. Read the MSM.......most people believe all that.
OK, sorry, rant over.
AMC is not alone with not giving a military discount.
I hear all sorts of crap from people who don’t even know why we have a military.
Let me say with all sincerity “Thank you for your service.” You hit the nail on the head when you say it’s not the amount, it’s the gesture.
And Firemen? Paramedics? Doctors? Nurses? How about Border Agents, they are putting their lives on the line serving the nation. How far do we take it? Personally, I think it would be a good idea to offer military servicemen discounts, but it should be left up to the business to decide. I would think it would be better to have asked the corporate people to consider giving military servicemen a discount; putting a whining post on FR makes it seem like , IMHO, you were only interested in getting cheap seats.
BTW, please tell your son well done, we’re proud of his service.
Just to clarify: Did we not “invade” Iraq? Whether I agree or not with the justification (I do), I don’t see how you can argue that we didn’t “invade”.
I agree with you that it should be left up to the business to decide whether to give a discount or not. The problem as I see it is that the business is offering a discount to one group of persons (students) and not another (military). That is their decision. However, it is also my decision to choose not to patronize that particular business based upon their business decision.
Lastly, unlike you, I did not see the original post as whining to get cheap seats at a movie. Rather as using this forum as an outlet to inform the masses of like minded people of something they may not be aware of. I for one did not know that AMC was conducting their business this way. Now, I can make a better informed decision the next time I go to the movies.
I take that to mean that you support entitlements...
Whatever, Dude...
Like I see all these rich military retirees walking around working in their dream jobs.
Most of the retirees that I've worked with (as a UXO tech) couldn't pour piss out of a boot. (Others would have succeeded in *anything* they chose to do.) Many of them "double-dip" into other retirement programs. The Secret Service junta that has taken over the FAM program is triple-dipping (Military, SS, and FAM). They seem to have an even greater sense of entitlement.
The fact remains, however, that entitlement politics is the tool of the left. Boycotting a business because they don't give out the same entitlements that you'd like to see, is straight out of the Jesse Jackson playbook. As a conservative, I refuse to sink to the level of the left.
The basic question which must be asked is does AMC show any movies worth paying for?
Obviously, you didn’t read the rest of my posts.
I don’t recall asking anyone to boycott the theatre. The only course of action I was hoping to take was to contact the corporation and ask them to reconsider their position. If that’s what you call whining, then so be it.
I completely understand your point...and I would, personally, happily pay for his movie. As I am sure hundreds of folks here would as well.
I think your point about “making the decisions to give discounts” is the place where you and I part ways. As a business owner I am amazed at the number of folks that pound me for senior discounts, student discounts, etc. People dont want to pay tax or shipping (I am an internet business.) They are always assuming that I cover all of that in my day to day costs. What they dont realize is that my day to day costs ARE covered, when I charge a reasonable rate for my service/product.
I appauld you son’s service. I know how the mil life sucks sometimes. I just dont think companies should be thought of poorly for not cutting their prices for “groups.” Yes, some groups are more worthy than others. But that is for the company to “live and die” with.
Tell your son if he’s ever in MA, let me know. I will get him into whatever movie he wants. Really. I would consider it a pleasure and an honor.
Sorry for the double post, but I thought I might add this—just to let you know how people DO treat our guys.
Over the past three days I was on four flights with returning service men. In each case the pilot came on and told us about the guys coming home—either for good, or on their two week leave. The planeload of people erupted. And it wasn’t just polite applause. If the crowd could have stood up and shaken their hands they would have.
In another case as I was coming off a plane, I heard a roar from inside. The entire end of the terminal in Cincinatti was giving a standing ovation to a group of guys coming home. Strangers were going across the floor to shake hands and pat these guys on the back. The troops were humbled to tears.
The country supports these guys. I am proud of your son’s decision to serve his country. You might be surprised at how much support they will see in everyday places.
Quite honestly, I had chills.
Here is a follow-up. I just received an e-mail from the AMC spokeswoman, and they will make discounted tickets available at Camp Lejeune, where my son is stationed, so that the military personnel there can purchase discounted tickets directly on the base.
Even taking into account income, most of the young NCO families almost have to resort to food stamps. When my husband was a young NCO, we had a hard time making ends meet. Our rent was 400 a month, car payment was 250, utilities were around 300 all included. When you income is only a little over 1000 a month, that doesn’t leave much left over. I don’t know what base pay for NCOs are now, but I can’t imaging there has been much of an improvement.
I support showing appreciation - an entitlement comes with a law - appreciation is a simple kindness to recognize someone's contribution
Just got off the phone with my grandson in Afghanistan - he's Special Forces - had a lot of bullets whizzing around his head lately - I'd like to think he got a tiny token of appreciation when he gets back home.
what branch of the service did you serve in , which theater of war?
The fact that they are now willing to give the discounts through the military base but not at the box office tells me that somehow they are afraid of repercussions from the anti-military left if they post with the other discounts that they are giving one to the armed forces as well.
Good idea. I think everyone who can should give special discounts to all military members. Deep discounts, if possible.
Because you aren’t allowed an opinion unless your a veteran. Get a grip.
USAF, Gulf War, big f’ing deal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.